A Day with Dr. Jean!!

Old Idea Still Working

        There's a linky party over at What the Teacher Wants 
-- click on the link for more great behavior management ideas!

             One of my favorite things to teach is writing -- but not handwriting. (How many times do I have to demonstrate the right way to make a letter!!) With this year's huge class of 27, I've had a hard time getting any "silent" writing going.  They are a very talkative bunch, and any silence we have doesn't last long.  I ask them for 5 minutes of totally silent writing, so everyone has a chance to think without interruption.  Today I remembered an idea I used many years ago when I had a little bear called "Mr. Goodbear -- he would sit on the neatest table in a class I taught about 20 years ago.
We use the Letterland phonics program in our county, and each letter of the alphabet has a character.  Z is "Zig-Zag Zebra".  She is a very shy little zebra, and she doesn't like noise.  I bought a little zebra at Dollar Tree a few years ago, and I happened to notice it today as we were doing the Writer's Workshop lesson.  I waited until I caught one group working quietly, and I put the zebra on their table.I told them that she didn't like noise, and she would not stay if anyone talked.  It worked like a charm!!  Suddenly the whole room was quiet!  Zig-Zag Zebra got to visit every table before the writing time was over == it was amazing!

           There were several children writing actual words today -- sight words and words they copied from the bulletin board/word wall. That is always exciting for me.  Some are starting to draw more detailed pictures -- not just a head with legs coming out of it. We have a LONG way to go, but i little bit of silence is a wonderful thing at the end of a long day.

        The other exciting accomplishment was when one boy wrote an actual sentence without help -- and even drew a picture that matched the words -- yay!! And spelled words correctly! There is hope!!

!

Daily 5, Day 23, and 27 Children

                We have been in school for a month now -- and I'm finally starting to feel like we might be      able to make it.  There are signs today...

• No one crying -- not even ME when they brought me a new student- who can't write his name
• We actually got a compliment on our quiet line in the hall -- and it was a LONG line
• I reorganized the reading/intervention groups and we finally got through ALL 5 of them before lunch
• No one dropped their lunch tray
• We had 3  rotations with 3 groups "reading to self" or "working on writing" independently while "Mrs. Awesome" ( my assistant -- name given by a former student) and I worked with the other 2 small groups for about 20 minutes during each rotation. WOOHOO!!
• 2 girls chose copies of "Brown Bear, Brown Bear: and reread it together -- from memory, mostly -- hardly missed a word
• They worked mostly by themselves on the math Investigation today -- counting dots on the dice and writing the numbers
• Many wrote words that I could actually read in their journals -- one even wrote a complete sentence with a period at the end!
• My graph of "letter sounds recognition" showed huge gains for nearly everyone.
• I didn't have to take a nap after school
• We finally got our math workbooks and used them for the first time.
• Instead of saying "I'm done, now what?" -- they are asking, "Can I get a book to read?"  I love those words!   

                     I am so thankful for the Daily 5 book and the Whole Brain Teaching website and "Next Steps in Guided Reading" and the "ESGI" computerized assessment and Letterland and all the things I have found on the teaching blogs -- especially Heidisongs -- and Teachers Pay Teachers. Notice I didn't say "All the things I learned in college." That was too long ago -- and we didn't even have computers back then.  But I have learned a LOT since then!  Most of all, I am thankful for supportive co-workers, praying friends, and an understanding family.  They never complain when I work late and tie up the computer for hours -- or even when I don't cook supper or do their laundry. They pitch in and take care of themselves so I can spend as much time as I need to on school stuff.  I am blessed!
                  And I think we are going to make it after all --

NC Teacher Bloggers and the Ultimate Linky Party

teaching blog addict

                                                 Click here on "Teaching with Z" to link up

I have found so many great ideas from other teacher bloggers since I became an addict started reading -- and writing -- teacher blogs.  And like "Teaching with Z," I looked at the pictures and stories of bloggers who were meeting up this summer in New York and Texas and Las Vegas -- and wished there was an event a little closer to home in NC.  So I am happy to add my little blog to the list of NC teachers -- and look forward to a NC meet-up sometime!

                                           And look what else I found today! Just click on

Click here!

                                             
                                                               ultimate linky party

What did you do in kindergarten today?

When you ask,"What did you do in Kindergarten today?" and the answer is "Nothing..."

Here's what they really mean --

Read the morning message together and practiced the words "Dear Class" and "Love, Mrs. Spencer"

Found out the difference between a word and a letter.  Counted letters in a word.

Said the pledge to the flag

Listened to stories/poems -- "I Love my White Shoes" and "Rocking in My School Shoes" and "Mary Wore Her Red Dress" and “Jazzbo and Googy”

Sang and learned motion to several songs

Practiced air writing Pp and Qq and heard a song and story about Peter Puppy and Quarrelsome Queen

Sorted long and short names

Explored math stations and learned 4 ways to show the number 7

Learned about the calendar and named days, months, and seasons

Cut and glued pictures beside their first sound

Practiced saying the rules of the classroom

Practiced 3 ways to read a book

Visited the library and learned the procedure for checking out a book

Found out about different voice levels in the classroom

Colored a picture of Golden Girl and tried to stay in the lines

Used a whiteboard and markers to write

Sang a song about counting to 100

Practiced reading and spelling "red" “the” and “go”in a song

Walked quietly in a line

Carried my own tray, said my number and ate lunch in the lunchroom

Cooperated with a partner to use math manipulatives

Told the teacher which letters and sounds I recognized

Sat in one spot and read a book quietly for 3 minutes

Compared shapes to see how they were alike and different

Went to the gym for PE or art or music or computer lab

This is NOT your mama's kindergarten!!  There is a lot to learn this year, and you will be amazed at all they will accomplish in the next 169 days of school!

Therapeutic Thursday

Blog Hoppin;

   It's Therapeutic Thursday at "Blog Hoppin" -- teacher/bloggers are sharing their favorite ways to relax after a busy/stressful day at school.  And since it is Thursday, I am just back from my weekly therapy -- my  A Capella chorus rehearsal. Nearly every Thursday since I I started teaching  kindergarten about 9 years ago, I have left all thoughts of school and housework behind to concentrate on learning and performing barbershop style music with Carolina Style Chorus. This group of about 55 women gathers together for friendship and beautiful harmony -- and laughter -- as we strive to ring those chords and and prepare for performances and competitions.
  I was so tired this evening after spending the day "herding cats" as my friend said -- 26 little boys and girls can wear this 60-something teacher down! I don't think anything but chorus could have kept me from spending the evening on the couch.  But I know my chorus is expecting me -- and depending on me -- and I will be energized by the end of the evening.  There will be someone behind me rubbing my tired shoulders -- several asking about my week and my class -- someone bring me stickers or prize box toys, and the 4 part harmony that fills my heart. It is my favorite night of the week!
   We love to sing together just for the pure enjoyment, but it's also fun to sing for an audience.  One of our favorites is singing Christmas carols at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC

  At the last regional competition, we won first place, so we are busy preparing to go to the International Competition in Colorado in a couple months.  How exciting is that?  Not only will we get to dress up in sparkly clothes and rhinestone earrings and false eyelashes, but we will get to sing on stage for an audience of thousands!  And there will be applause and cheers -- something we don't get much of at school .I love my chorus!!

 

Almost Ready!

            I am almost ready for kindergarten to start!! Just a few things left on my to-do list...
  1. Write 26 names on labels for...

• cubbies, 
• planners, 
• poetry notebooks,
•  desks, 
• literacy notebooks, 
• book baskets
• nametags
• word work folder
• journals
• math journals    

  2. Copy for parent folder

• introductory letter
• Donor's Choose permission
• scavenger hunt
• permission to post pictures on Internet
• supply list
• class schedule
• parent information sheet

3. Post class list
4. Make schedule
5  Sort all those boxes on the table
6. Cut out and laminate more stuff
7. Set up fish tank and bring fish to school
8  Change book barn display -- put away end of year books
9. Gather books to read for first week of school
10. Make playdough
11. Set up 10 math stations
12. Put names on birthday poster
13. Find "How We go Home" poster
14. Put books in individual book baskets
15. Write rest of lesson plans
16. Make homework folders 
17 Finish powerpoint for "Meet the Teacher" tomorrow night
18. Get "Bucket-filler " book from library and do bulletin board in hall -- if we have time.
19. Make new class helpers chart with polka dot pockets
20 Write names on clothespins for clip chart
21 Write names on sticks for job jar
22. Turn barn around so kids won't play inside
23 Charge batteries for camera
24. Activate ESGI account and enter names on line
25 Label baskets to collect school supplies

       Hmmm -- looks like the "optional" work day on Friday may not be so optional after all... I know I'm forgetting things...

26. Fill bird feeder outside the window!

First Day of Kindergarten

                                          

First Day of Kindergarten

         This has been the shortest summer ever!  And since I have spent a lot of the summer reading and writing blogs, cutting out and laminating, rearranging and redecorating my classroom, and buying school stuff -- well, it doesn't seem like it could possibly be time to start back in a little over a week.  We were very lucky to get our floors cleaned the first week of vacation, so I was able to get back in my room in June.
        But now it is time to think about what we will actually DO when the room is full of all those little blank slates -- eager (I hope) to learn!  I am glad to have a place to get my thoughts together -- and there are lots of other ideas shared if you click on the link.
        We have Meet the Teacher night next Thursday.  I always take a picture of the kids -- and a picture with their family on that day.  I use the kids' pictures in lots of ways, and the family picture helps me remember who belongs to who. So I hope to have pictures of all the kids on the door on the first day.
        All the kindergarten kids usually meet in the library every morning -- some will eat breakfast at school first. I will meet them there and clip on a name tag that I've already prepared -- it will have their lunch number on there as well, and they will wear these to lunch until they memorize that long number.  I will already have asked the parents to say a quick goodbye and let the children walk in the room alone -- that worked really well last year.  I'm hoping for no tears!!
     Names will be on cubbies -- and they should remember where theirs is since I showed it to them just a few days ago. So they will put bookbags away and go to a table.  In the previous years, I have had math manipulatives, a "Kissing Hand" raccoon picture to color, or a ball of white playdough with red food coloring inside.  They squeeze the playdough until it all turns pink -- magically -- and we will later make it into a heart shaped magnet for them to take home.  I'm still thinking about this -- but leaning toward the playdough.
    After everyone is in the room -- and hopefully all they parents have gone to cry -- or celebrate -- because their baby has grown up.-- I will play the Jack Hartmann "Hello" song and gather everyone on the carpet.  I will use what I have learned from the "Whole Brain Teaching" website to teach
"Class -- Yes" and "Hands and Eyes."
 Now we will develop the CLASS RULES.

 Now, there are lots of rules to chose from, but I always like to let the kids come up with the rules we need to be safe and happy. I actually have the rules all laminated and ready,  but I think it means more if they take part, so I don't show them my posters until the next day.  And everything they suggest can be incorporated into my rules.  For example, if they say "Don't hit" -- that's rule #3. Keep your hands and feet to yourself.

    I'll show them the clip chart -- and their own name on a clip -- and explain how that works.  I also have a silver box full of Skittles -- it is amazing what they will do for one little Skittle.

    We will practice names a little -- the WBT way, then stand and sing "Ready to Read"  and look at the Morning Message.  This will mostly involve counting words, counting letters, and seeing what they know.

    I'll introduce the job chart and assign jobs, then we will start our first Letterland lesson (our phonics program).  We will meet Annie Apple and Bouncy Ben -- hear their story, song, and actions, and perhaps color a picture of Annie Apple.

   By now it is time to move around a little, so after a discussion about rules in the hallway -- and rules in the bathroom -- and a story about Pete the Cat Rockin' in his school shoes, we will go on a tour of the school.  This involves stopping in to meet the office staff, librarian, computer lab teacher, and the lunchroom.  I always have them walk thru and show them how to get their tray -- and don't touch the food -- show your lunch number at the cash register, and where to sit.

   On the way back we will have our first group bathroom break -- something of an ordeal trying to keep 25 kids quiet while they wait in line for the 2 toilets.  This is usually the place for the first Skittles to be given to those who follow all the rules.

   Back in the room now -- on the carpet, criss cross applesause -- I sing Dr. Jean's "Everybody Have a Seat"-- and we will practice the RULES again.

   Reading Time -- We will talk about names -- long names, short names, and sort the names I have on the pocket chart -- as I see who can recognize their own name.  We will look at "Mary Wore a Red Dress" in a big book,
 then sing the song using  names of the children.  I might show the the Heidisongs "R-e-d spells red" video if we have time.
Sometime we will talk about voice levels -- 1 is a whisper voice and 5 is outside yelling.
  By now it is probably time for Gym or Art class -- don't have the schedule yet -- so time for teachers to take a breather and get ready for the rest of the day!
  Unless the schedule has changed, we go right from that class to the lunchroom.  Last year lunch was 10:50-11:20.  Oh, no -- another bathroom break!  If our library cards are ready, we will visit the library after lunch and check out a book.
  This year, we have "Enrichment/Intervention" on the schedule after lunch.  So this is the time I will introduce The Daily 5 and Cafe.  I'll read one of my favorites "No, David"

as I teach 3 ways to read a book. I have a little song about 3 ways that I will teach, then we will make a "Read to Self" anchor chart and model the right and wrong way to read.

I have  laundry baskets for some to sit in -- and I will assign good place to read on this first day.  We will try to build stamina -- training body and brain -- and color in a graph.

Math -- We will start our math time with calendar activities -- singing "Days of the Week" before the calendar person comes up to help me do the calendar. We are using Math Investigations -- plus Deb Diller's "Math Stations" -- so we have a mini-lesson -- just an intro -- and will graph bus riders and car riders with a pocket chart -- or magnets, if I get them done by then.  On this first week, we will just have exploration activities -- pattern blocks, etc.  During this time I will try to do a little math assessing -- find out if they can count, etc.

FINALLY--- TIME FOR RECESS!
After another bathroom break -- PLEASE be quiet-- I'll introduce writer's workshop.  We will talk about procedures -- again -- as we gather in the carpet.  I am having a hard time putting my writer's workshop together.  Here are the books that I am trying to combine: "Talking, Drawing, Writing" and

Growing Up Writing" and "Mastering the Mechanics" and a book I got from Jessica Meacham's website -- plus a gazillion ideas from other bloggers.  All have wonderful ideas -- and more than I could ever complete in a year -- so I am still working on that.  The first day, I expect we will just tell some stories and do a self portrait in their journals.
Oh HELP! -- the day is almost over and we haven't made the magnets yet!! And I still have to get bookbags packed and planners given out and look at the list to see who is riding which bus! And I have 3 more books that I wanted to read!  Oh, and did I mention that I will need to start assessing to see who knows the alphabet?
OK, obviously I still have more planning to do -- when I get the final schedule and the final class list.
But I am glad to have a plan of sorts -- and you can bet I'll be checking out all the rest of the links during this last week of cutting, laminating, planning...

Daily 5 links from Yahoo group

From my Daily 5 Yahoo group -- a lot of links I want to save for future reference,


   Jul 13, 2012, at 11:09 AM, "Jacquelyn McTaggart" <mctag@indytel.com> wrote:

>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Daily_Five
>
> http://www.proteacher.net/ (Peony Room)
>
> http://www.sanjuan.edu/webpages/gguthrie/balanced_literacy.cfm?subpage=127464
>
> [CAFÉ and D5 forms and icon graphics - free]
>
> http://web.mac.com/ljrieben/iWeb/Site/Teacher%20Resources.html [1st 6 weeks Kdgn. lesson plans]
>
> http://www.lauracandler.com/strategies/readingworkshop.php - great reading workshop resources
>
> http://teacherweb.com/FL/LaurelHillSchool/MrsVensko/ap10.aspx?print=true [2nd grade teacher’s method for coordinating Daily 5 with Treasures.] This is excellent!
>
> http://www.lebanon.k12.mo.us/profdev/picturethis_20050406.pdf -Picture books to teach skills
>
> daily5 for dummies.doc
>
> http://www.maiolo.org/2nd_Grade/The_Daily_5.html - 2nd Grade
>
> http://hill.troy.k12.mi.us/staff/bnewingham/myweb3/ Beth Newingham
>
> http://hollynowalk.com/ Holly Nowalk – 4th grade
>
> http://www.tips-for-teachers.com/ Mandy Gregory 2nd-4th (Some Great stuff on Reader’s Theater)
>
> http://mrshaydenworld.com/ Mrs. Hayden – Good resources for Language Arts
>
> http://mrshillman.iowapages.org/ Mrs. Hillman – 3rd grade; Oelwein, IA – Lots of Resources
>
> http://www.jmeacham.com/ Mrs. Meacham – Don’t miss this one; it is FABULOUS
>
> http://web.hcpss.org/~laura_rieben/ Laura Rieben – Another Great One (kdgn.)
>
> http://mrstg.edublogs.org/ Mrs. T.G. 2nd-5th (Iowa) Great technology tips
>
> http://www.thelearningpad.net/index.html 2nd Grade
>
> http://theschoolbell.com/ Primary
>
> http://pinterest.com – The Daily 5 – Hundreds of forms, bulletin boards, icons, etc.
>
> http://www.bainbridgeclass.com/readingworkshop.htm - Ex. Teacher’s Overview of D5
>
> >
> Here are links to the Daily 5 Book studies happening around to blog world
>
> Kindergarten http://livelovelaughkindergarten.blogspot.com/2012/06/kindergarten-daily-5-book-study.html
>
> 1st-3rd Grade http://seusstastic.blogspot.com/2012/06/daily-5-book-study-calendar.html
>
> Upper Grade http://www.wereadweblogweteach.com/2012/06/summer-book-study-schedule.html
>
>
>
>
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Daily_Five/links
>

An Award -- You Like me!!!

An award, --for me??  !!!

A big thank you to Chelsey at 

The Wild West

for offering this to me.

This award is named for the German word "Liebster," which translates to "beloved" or "favorite", and is given to a "new, up and coming blogger."

Here are the rules:

1. Link back to the person who gave it to you.

2. Post the award to your blog.

3. Give the award to at least 5 bloggers with less than 200 followers.

4. Leave a comment on the 5 blogs to let them know that they have been offered this award.

I hope this is as exciting to these new bloggers as it was for me!

Great Scavenger hunt here

Kindergarten Love


Detailed plans for first day of kindergarten

Lanier's Lions


Whole Brain Teaching ideas

Blessings of Teaching


Emergency sub binders

The Meek Moose


Love the ""I Can" charts here!

Sample's Superstars

So many bloggers -- so many good ideas!!

Picture Books I Love!

The Teacher Wife is having a picture book linky party!

        I've already written 2 blogs this week, and I was going to take a break.  But then I ran across this picture book linky, and I had to jump in.  I love finding new picture books -- I always have a wishlist going on at Amazon and a wishlist for our school librarian.  I have already found more books to add to those lists tonight.

       Here are some of our favorites.

After I read "Press Here" -- ordered by the librarian from my list -- it NEVER got back on the shelf because one of my kids checked it out every day for the rest of the year.  No other class in the school ever got to see it!

Abiyoyo is another book that flew off the shelf all year.  It's not a new story, but the kids loved to hear it again and again.  It has a giant and magic tricks and a song to sing -- I always know it will be a favorite every year.

      I know others have mentioned the Pete the Cat books -- they are my absolute favorite new books and I have shared them a LOT.  I really like this one even more because of the opportunity to talk about the subtraction equations as Pete loses his buttons.

      I got this book years ago when I sold Discovery Toys.  My own children about wore it out, so I was excited to find a big book copy in my school a few years ago.  The illustrations are wonderful and I use this as a mentor text for teaching about details during our Writer's Workshop.

       The Big Green Monster book is another one that I discovered from a blog list, and I'm so glad I did. It's great for retelling, even  those who can't read the words can read the pictures and tell the story.

    Thanks to all the teachers who have shared their favorites -- my wishlist is growing again!

Daily 5/ Word Work

Click Here

  

I like to introduce "Word Work" after the children have built up a good bit of "Read to Self "stamina.  It's pretty exciting for them when I start pulling out Play Dough and puzzles and fun things like that, so we have to practice a LOT before I am willing to turn them loose with Play Dough and ink pads!

1. Experimenting with words for learning and practicing 

a spelling pattern (brainstorm a list of ways you can '

do this).

At the beginning of the year,  word work is often more like "Letter Work" as the children do activities like matching capitals and lower case, sorting letters by "In my name/not in my name" and tracing over letters.  Gradually we will start working on word lists, and using everything from play dough to white boards to stamps to spell out the first words.

2. Memorize high frequency words (How often do 

you introduce new words? Do your students have 

their own lists of words  that they can work on? 

How will you keep track of words that they 

already know?  

 During Daily 5 Word Work time, we continue to use a variety of ways to practice reading, writing, and spelling the words on differentiated lists. We use a lot of Heidisongs to practice the hf words, and also work on them in small groups with white boards and "Mix and Fix" -- I spell the word on a sentence strip, then cut it apart and mix it up for them to "fix."  I also make a word ring with about 6 - 8 of their own words for some of them to take home to learn. They love to play "Bang!" -- pulling a word on a stick from a can and trying to collect the most words without getting "Bang!"

But after a while, I start sending a list of 10 words home every night. Every morning my assistant checks anyone who is ready to read their list.  If they can say all 10 words, they get to have lunch with the teacher -- woo-hoo!  I have a centerpiece that I put on the table in the cafeteria, and they enjoy sitting with me and chatting while everyone else has to be quiet. I don't know why it was such a great incentive, but some kids learned over 300 words this year.

 I hope we will have access to the ESGI assessment this year -- that's another great way to quickly assess their words.

3. Generalize spelling patterns (brainstorm a list of 

ways you can  do this).

 We don't do this right away, but later in the year we will "look for the chunks." This is often a pocket chart activity, but I also have some foam dice to make words with. We also make charts of word families that I hang around the room during the second semester for "Writing the Room."  

4. Adding to our knowledge and curiosity of unique 

and interesting words. (What is the best way 

to do this?)

I'm always keeping my eyes open for new words to add to their vocabulary. I have monthly word charts for them to read and copy, and several picture dictionaries they can use. I keep a dictionary handy for looking up words in our stories.  When we find a good one, I write it on a sticky note and stick it above the board on the alphabet letter that it starts with. Last year, we  talked about the word "devour" and wrote it on a sticky note.  About a week later, a little red-headed boy said, "Teacher, I DEVOURED that ice cream!!  I was thrilled to know it was now part of his vocabulary.

Other things to think about:

·       What materials do I already have?

I   I have everything I need -- except some fresh play dough.  I plan to use letter stamps more this year -- but if they can't keep from getting ink everywhere, I'll have to put it away again!  I have letters to string, letters on bottle caps, magnetic letters, alphabet puzzles, Lego letters, flash cards, wikki sticks, pocket charts, and a ton of TPT stuff.

·       What materials would I like to get?

          I still have a lot of things on my TPT wishlist...

     

·       How will I store them?

    Some of my activities are in drawers, on shelves, and all within reach of the kids. But I have more in plastic envelopes that I'd like to find a better way to organize.

·       Where will students work?

Messy word work -- like play dough, water colors, and stamps/ink will have assigned spots at tables.  But most of the other activities can be done on the floor.

I takes a lot of modeling before I am ready to let some of the children do Word Work independently -- it's the part of Daily 5 that is most likely to cause problems.  But when they are finally able to choose an activity and follow all the procedures, it is amazing and wonderful -- and a lot more fun and effective than boring flash cards or writing words 5 times each!!

A Look at My (polka dotty) Classroom

It's a Linky Party

                                                  

All the themed classrooms I've seen on other blogs have inspired me to try a little change in my classroom this summer.  It first started with the book barn that my husband built for me last summer.

I liked the splash of red, so I looked for some red valances to replace the shabby old ones I've had for 8 years.  Here's what caught my eye on ebay.

Now I was on a roll.  I saw some polka dotted curtains covering shelves on Pinterest, so I made some to cover my toy shelf -- not only because it looks pretty, but it covers the distraction of toys.  That will help keep the little brothers and sisters from pulling them all out and making a mess at open house.

I found the red baskets at Dollar Tree, so sorted my special books by monthly theme and put them on top of the shelf. I need some labels -- and luckily I found some red polka dotty ones on TeachersPayTeachers, but haven't added them yet.
Then I found more red baskets at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, so I decided to replace my mismatched library baskets

And a few more red baskets at Dollar Tree!

The middle basket has some little tiny composition books that I plan to use for math journals for the first month of school.
By now, every time I went in a store, I was looking for red/polka dots, and look what I found at Hobby Lobby!

While I was taking pictures, I thought I'd add some of my other favorite things, like my rug from Donor's Choose.

And the ice cube tray that holds my white board markers so the lids don't get lost...

And from Deanna Jump and The Cafe' Book and the Daily 5, here's my leftover bulletin board from last year.  I have new polka dotted border to add this year.

My math stations go here, but this is still a jumble from the end of the year -- it's my next project to work on.  I will try to have 10 - 12 stations when I figure out how to merge Investigations, Common Core, and Math Stations.

Another new addition is this big wall unit that I was lucky enough to get when our principal wanted to get it out of her office -- and I was the closest room that had space for it.  All my professional books finally have a home, and there's room in the bottom for all the extra math and literacy stuff.

Finally, here are two more places that I find help...

                                                              TeachersPayTeachers

and my wonderful assistant -- who is taking a much deserved vacation this summer!